The energy scene in the 21st century is going to see a major shift and very soon oil & gas will see their finiteness.  For a 25% reduction in annual crude oil requirement costing around 20 billion dollars, we must at least invest 2 billion dollars and deploy the entire national research, education and industrial resource for realizing this mission in time.  The ultimate goal has to be energy independence for self-reliant, clean and cost effective fuel in the country.

Delivering this conclusion the former President of India, H. E. Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam inaugurated the National Seminar on India’s Economic Growth and Environmental Sustenance on June 5, 2008 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi organised by the Petroleum Federation of India and the Petroleum Conservation Research Association to commemorate World Environment Day.

In his presidential address earlier Shri S. Sundareshan, Additional Secretary, MoP&NG highlighted the impact of continued economic reforms on national growth in general and sustainable growth in particular.  Shri D. N. Narasimha Raju, Joint Secretary, MoP&NG and Executive Director, PCRA stressed on the need of demand side management to reduce consumption of hydrocarbons and commended the efforts of PCRA in this area.

Welcoming the participants earlier, Shri S. Behuria, Chairman, IndianOil and Chairman, PetroFed drew attention to the alarming rise in average global temperatures during the last century by 0.6 degree celsius.  That is why, he said, this years World Environment Day slogan is ‘Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy’.  And the world is in the grip of a dangerous carbon habit, he added, while calling for concrete steps to not only measure our emissions but also to bring them down.  A vote of thanks was proposed at the end of the inaugural session by Director General, PetroFed, Shri A. K. Arora.

 The days programme was divided into two technical sessions and one panel discussion.  The first technical session on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection was chaired by Shri M. S. Ramachandran, Chairman, BHP Billiton, India and had eminent speakers like Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Director and Chief Executive, ICRIER; Shri Mukesh Rohatgi, CMD, Engineers India Limited; and Shri A. K. Hazarika, Director (Onshore), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited.  The second technical session focused on Energy Efficiency Improvement.  It was chaired by Dr. Jyoti Parikh, Executive Director, IRADe and featured Shri S. Ravishankar, Sr. General Manager, Tata Motors; Shri J. C. Sharma, Additional General Manager, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited; Shri Ashish Nag, General Manager (Process Design Engg.), Indian Oil Corporation Limited; and Shri M. M. Mandal, Executive Director, GAIl (India) Limited as speakers.

The final session was a panel discussion chaired by Dr. Kirit S. Parikh, Member, Planning Commission and had eight eminent speakers on various subjects.  They were Dr. K. S. Balaraman, Executive Director, Centre for High Technology; Shri Sandeep Garg, Energy Economist, Bureau of Energy Efficiency; Shri A. K. Goel, Director, PCRA; Prof. Arvind Krishan, Professor, Dept. of Architecture, School of Planning & Architecture; Mr. Gary P. Godwin, Managing Director, UOP India Pvt. Limited; Shri P. K. Agarwal, Sr. Fellow, TERI; Shri Anand Kumar, Director (R&D), Indian Oil Corporation Limited; Dr. D. M. Kale, Executive Director (R&D), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited.

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Inaugural Address by H. E. Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Presentation : (right click and click on 'save target as')

1. Infrastructure Development for economic growth – Dr. Rajiv Kumar

2. Technology Challenge (Environment Friendly Technologies)  - Shri Mukesh Rohatgi

3. Energy Efficiency Improvement Auto Sector - Shri S. Ravishankar

4. Power Sector – Shri J.C.Sharma

5. Refineries & Petrochemicals - Shri Ashish Nag

6. Gas Handling & Processing – Shri M. M. Mandal

7. Panel Discussion - Shri Sandeep Garg

8 . Panel Discussion - Shri A. K. Goel

9. Panel Discussion - Mr. Gary P. Godwin

10. Panel Discussion - Shri P. K. Agarwal

11. Panel Discussion - Shri Anand Kumar

12. Panel Discussion - Dr. D. M. Kale